A walk down the school memory lane- Part 4

Love-hate relationship with the school bell! 

Unavoidable, indispensable, loud, clear, commanding saga of the school bell….

         Besides the colorful events, playful memories, joyful moments and wonderful episodes during school life; there were several other aspects touching this phase each passing day. While thinking about such timely occurrences and memories of school journey,I caught myself remembering the loud and clear sound of our school bell! Though its schedule was as regular as the rising and setting sun, its presence and influence in life created a novel spark each day.

       As if pulling me back to follow its commands, this unavoidable and indispensable school bell ordered a powerful narration.

      A sound that demands discipline, order, regularity and perfection, school bell reminds me of the significance of tight schedule back then. Assuming different responsibilities and conveying different messages at diverse times of the day, this bell was capable of being liked and disliked all along the span of a single day! As a most wanted, hated, desired, appreciated phenomenon throughout school, its significance was too powerful to be avoided.

Different times, different meanings, different relations 

        Starting a new day with the ringing of bell, its loud noise seemed irritating, disturbing and unwanted as a big, long day awaited ahead. While waking up and preparing for an early morning school, every heart wished and hoped for the bell to postpone schedule; but its life-long trusted partnership with the school clock never made that possible!  Wondering about the strict discipline of this bell, all we could do was complain to ourselves. No matter how many times we expressed our hatred for this morning sound, it always waited for us;mocking at our helplessness.

       So while hatred and anger marked this first bell at school, the same sound was welcomed as it marked an end to a session before commencing the next one. For subjects and topics that appeared dull and dry, the sound of bell was definitely nothing less than music,while during fun-filled tasks,it appeared as an interruption! I always wondered if this bell watched all our sessions with careful eyes, ringing in too fast when not desired and making us wait endlessly when most needed. 

Happiness and bond with this bell!

      As if leading the entire school, this bell always had its way. When it rang at the perfect moment forcing a teacher to evaluate our homework some other time or postponing loads of work for the next session, we could not ask for more!  Moments like these brought us closer to its magic,convincing of its love for poor students! 

     As kids of primary grade and too small to understand the clock, we may not have appreciated the timely ringing of the bell. But as students of higher classes with better clarity; waiting for the bell to ring or looking around at friends with confused looks indeed formed exciting, fun-filled memories,as we think of them today.

      Sound of bell announcing recess was one of the most awaited moments of the day. A perfect opportunity to run away from class, studies, books and teachers, this session was more for fun than food! While eagerly waiting for this much needed break, its arrival felt totally exciting. The bell at the end of recess always seemed incorrect as if the school clock chose to run rather than stick to its usual walk!

       Reading, writing, studying, talking, complaining, enjoying as we managed to sail through one eventful day at school, the last bell of the day was undoubtedly the most loved one. Starting with hatred, progressing towards affection and finally filled with loads of love, this school bell offered diverse moments all within a single day. While bidding us good-bye at the end, it waited to greet us once again for a bright, new day. Hopes for its delay or wishes for its early arrival made no difference as it taught us discipline of a perfect schedule.

       Though a necessity and routine in each one’s life, memories of school bell do hold some exciting and interesting stories for each one of us. While writing about this important friend in my school life, I realized its valuable presence in the journey. Be it a regular school day or day of examination, be it a special event or celebration at school, this bell chose to ring and make our school life totally memorable. Such colorful memories remind one about the simple, routine, usual yet totally amazing happenings along this phase called ‘school'.

       Do you remember this disciplined, loud friend of yours?

       Did you wait for its sound all through the day?

      Time to end this piece… before the bell may ring and command me to do so!